Julia Lerman - Programming Entity Framework: Code First

• This chapter provides a high level, end-to-end overview of Code First. Youll find sample code, but there are no walkthroughs in this first chapter. The chapter winds up with a discussion of what you wont find in Code First, so that you can approach the technology with the correct expectations.

• In this chapter, you will get to jump right in to the code. The chapter gives you a chance to work hands-on with Code First (or just read along if you prefer) as you work with a simple class to see some of the basic default behavior and perform some simple configurations using the two mechanisms for configuring: Data Annotations and the Fluent API. Youll see how Code First is able to automatically create a database for you using default behavior. Through the next four chapters youll lean on this database creation default, and then in , youll learn how to work with existing databases and exert more control over the database.

• This is the first of three chapters that dive deeply into Code First convention and configuration. Youll learn about the presumptions the Code First convention makes about the attributes of properties (e.g., the length of strings) and how that gets interpreted into the conceptual model and the database. Youll also learn how to perform configuration using Data Annotations and Fluent API to control the outcome of the model and database.

• In this chapter, youll focus on relationships between your classes and how those work out in the model that Code First infers and in the database. Code First convention is able to infer the most common scenarios when classes have relationships between them. Well look closely at the nuances in your classes that will drive Code Firsts assumptions and then how to ensure that Code First knows exactly what you want it to do, again by configuring with Data Annotations or the Fluent API.

• This chapter focuses on how classes map to the database. This information will be especially important when you are mapping your classes to an existing database. Simple mappings, such as specifying table names or column names and types, can make a huge difference. Youll learn about the default mappings to the database when you have inheritance hierarchies defined between your classes and how to drive Table Per Hierarchy, Table Per Type and even Table Per Concrete Type mappings to the database. Youll also learn how to map a single entity to multiple tables or, conversely, multiple entities to a single table.

• This chapter is where you finally get to stray from the default database creation behavior. Youll learn how to control Code Firsts determination of the database name and location, whether you do this through connection strings or some lower-level code in the Code First API. Youll also find some additional tricks for controlling connections and more.

• In this chapter, youll dig farther into Code First to see how to perform some advanced techniques. Youll see how to prevent Code First from worrying about keeping the database in sync with your model when you want to take over control of that task. Youll also learn about the default model caching and how to override it to solve problems like targeting multiple database providers in the same application instance. Other advanced topics are addressed as well.

• This book was written about the features of Code First based on the Entity Framework 4.2 release. At the time of this writing, a number of Community Technical Previews demonstrate some of the features that Code First will gain in upcoming releases. This chapter shares available information about these future releases.

Indicates new terms, URLs, email addresses, filenames, and file extensions.

Used for program listings, as well as within paragraphs to refer to program elements such as variable or function names, databases, data types, environment variables, statements, and keywords.